Portable loom

ABSTRACT

A loom having a normally straight flat springy base adapted to be bowed longitudinally for tensioning warp threads which extend longitudinally and over ends of the base, and which are secured to a warp connecting member mounted for slidable movement longitudinally of the base, the warp being applied with the base in a bowed condition so that tendency of the base to return to its normally straight condition maintains the warp under tension.

United States Patent Cleverley 14 1 Apr. 3, 1973 541 PORTABLE LOOM 1,995,384 3 1935 Fletcher ..28 15 [76] Inventor: Sidney B. Clevefley, 730 Pemberton 2,043,082 6/1936 Wallach ..28/l5 Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Primary Exammer-Granvdle Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant ExaminerJ. C. Peters [22] F'led: July 26, 1971 1 Attorney-Brian J. Wood [21] Appl. No.: 166,105

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Apphcamm Pnomy Data A loom having a normally straight flat springy base Feb. 11,1971 Canada ..105 071 adapted be "mgimdinany tensiming warp threads which extend longitudinally and over [2%] ..28l/)lo5$dlg3;(3)g ends f the base and which are secured to a warp g i 139/29 connecting member mounted for slidable movement 139/34 longitudinally of the base, the warp being applied with the base in a bowed condition so that tendency of the [56] References Cited base to return to its normally straight condition maintains the warp under tension. UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Flgures 737,073 8/1903 Bush ..139/29 PATENTEUAPRBI I975 SHEET 1 OF 2 d ey B. I Clverley,

'Inve Ly le G. '1 ray,

Agent PATENTEDAPR 3 I575 sum 2 BF 2 Sidney B. Cleverley,

I tor Agent PORTABLE LOOM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION which separate warp threads can be extended and I0 maintained in a a taut condition for application of beads, the warp being spaced from the base to provide sufficient clearance for working. In order to reduce the size of the loom so as to afford ease of portability and storage, some looms have a roller at each end of the base on which each of the warp threads is individually wound so that, as beads are applied, the warp threads can be wound on one roller and paid off the other roller to enable the warp to be advanced in one direction.

Although such looms are relatively compact they are still so bulky that they do not readily lend themselves to be carried in womens handbags or stored in small drawers or cabinets.

Furthermore considerable care must be taken when advancing the warp to ensure that it does slacken, and thus avoid entanglement. Warping up also takes considerable time as each thread must be individually applied and adjusted for tension.

SU MMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides A loom which is particularly adapted for bead work although it not restricted thereto, and which is so constructed that an entire warp can be applied as one continuous thread and in which thread tension is equilized automatically so as to make warping up a quick and relatively easy procedure.

The loom of the present invention, furthermore, can be collapsed into a neat flat package suitable for carrying in small handbags, and can quickly and easily be placed to a working condition.

The loom of the present invention includes a base formed of a normally straight flat strip of springy material adapted to be bowed along a longitudinal axis, a warp connecting assembly mounted on a reverse face of the base, the assembly having warp engaging projections around which a thread can be passed then carried over an end of the strip so that a warp of a plurality of threads can be formed extending across the front face, the warp being appliedwith the base in a bowed condition so that the warp is automatically tensioned when the base tends to return to a normally straight condition.

A detailed description following, related to drawings, gives exemplification of apparatus according to the invention which, however, it capable of expression in means other than those particularly described and illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 shows a warp connecting member as seen from 44 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a section of the warp connecting member on line 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a portion of another embodiment of the invention showing an alternate form of warp connecting assembly,

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a warp connecting assembly of yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 through 5 FIGS. 1 through 5 show one embodiment of a loom of the invention, generally 10. As seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the loom has a base 11 which is formed of a normally straight flat strip of springy material which can be made of a metal for example, spring steel or a suitable thermoplastic, for example nylon, thickness of the base being such that it can be bent longitudinally into a bow as shown in FIG. 1. Warp thread guides 12 and 13 are located at opposite ends of the base. The warp thread guides are cylindrical having circular end flanges, severally l5, and spaced circumferentially extending grooves 16, center-to-center spacing of the grooves corresponding to desired spacing of warp threads.

Outer faces 18 of the flanges 15 have grooves, severally 19, for receiving legs of U-shaped spring clips 20.

A warp connecting member 21 is mounted on the base for longitudinal sliding movement between stops 22 and 22.1, which project from a reverse surface 23 of the base, the warp connecting member 21 serving as means for the loom to be warped up with a single thread to form a warp 24 extending over a front surface 25 of the base.

The warp connecting member 21 particularly seen in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, has a pair of rectangular section transversely extending pieces 27 and 28 each of which has a slot 29 for slidably receiving the base strip, the pieces being positioned side by side and being connected by tension springs 32 which extend into suitable bores 33, see FIGS. 4 and 5, formed in the pieces. Ends of the springs are secured by balls 34 having a press fit in the bores.

The pieces 27 and 28 have cylindrical thread engaging projections severally 36, three on each member being shown.

OPERATION In warping up the loom the warp connecting member 21 is positioned against the stop 22.1 and the base is then bowed as seen in FIG. 1 and maintained in a bowed condition by means of restraining bar 37 which has laterally bent end portions 38 insertable in longitudinally spaced apart holes 39 formed in the base.

One end of a warp thread is then secured to one of the projections 36 of the piece 27 and the thread is extended across the front surface of the base and passed around one of the projections 36 of the member 28, then returned across the front surface to pass again around one of the projections 36 on the piece 27. The procedure is continued until a warp of sufficient width has been built up, and the loose end of the warp thread is connected to one of the projections on either of the pieces 27 or 28. The restraining bar 37 is then removed. Tendency of the base to try to return to a straight condition automatically tensions the warp thread. The springs are of sufficient strength to give slightly, but not sufficiently to permit the base to straighten from its bowed condition. As the thread can slide on the projections even thread tensioning is automatic.

Bead work 39.1 is started adjacent the guide 13 and continued towards the guide 12. The warp connecting member, it is seen, can be moved longitudinally along the base towards the stop 22 so as to advance the warp around the guide 13. Effective length of warp on which bead work can be applied is, therefore, substantially equal to the distance between the guides plus the distance between the stops.

When it is desired to collapse the loom the spring clips are fitted to the flanges s 15 and pressed down against the warp. The warp is then removed from the projections on one of the pieces 27 or 28 to permit the base to return to a straightened condition. The clips, which frictionally engage the warp thread, maintain the thread in the guide grooves and also maintain the warp thread under slight tension. The loom, in its straightened condition can fit easily in a handbag of suitable size or stored in a drawer or the like.

The loom can easily be restored to an operative condition by bowing the base sufficiently to enable the loose warp end to be reconnected to the projections from which it has been removed.

FIG. 6

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a loom, generally 40. The loom 40 has a base 41 which is the same as the base 11 and which can be flexed from a broken outline position 41.1 to a bowed condition shown in solid outline. The loom 40 differs from the loom 10 only in configuration of a warp connecting member 42.

The member 42 has a pair of transverse pieces 43 and 44 similar to the pieces 27 and 28, mounted on the base 41 for longitudinal sliding movement. The pieces are connected by light tension springs 44 which can yield sufficiently to enable the pieces to be spread apart to a broken outline position 41.1. A latch 45 pivotally mounted on a pin 46 on the piece 43 is engageable with a pin 47 on the piece 44 for releasably interconnecting the pieces.

The loom 40 is warped up in the manner described with respect to the loom 10, the pieces 42 and 43 being connected by engagement of the latch 45 with the pin 47 so that when the base 41 tends to try to return to a normally straightened condition the warp is tensioned.

When it is desired to collapse the loom the latch 45 is disengaged from the pin 47 to enable the pieces 43 and 44 to spread apart against the yieldable resistance of the springs so as to enable the base 41 to assume it normally straight condition, as shown in broken outline. Tension is, however, maintained in the warp due to the tension in the springs 44. The loom can be returned to an operative bowed condition by moving the pieces 43 and 44 together, and resecuring the latch 45 and the pin 47.

FIG. 7

FIG. 7 shows, partially, another embodiment of the loom of the invention, generally 50. The loom 50, has a base 51 shown in broken outline, which is the same as the bases 41 and 11 and, consequently, requires no further description. The loom 50 has a warp connecting member 52 which differs from the warp connecting member of the looms 10 and 40.

The warp connecting member 52 is channel sectioned having a base portion 53 and parallel side flanges, severally 54. The flanges 54 and base portion 53, it is seen, form a way in which the base 51 has a slidable fit. The connecting member 52 is applied to a reverse surface 56 of the base 51. I

Longitudinally spaced warp engaging projections 57, 58, and 59, project outwards of the base portion 53 of the member 52. Although only three projections are shown it is to be understood that more can be provided depending upon width of the loom. A pair of posts 61 are located adjacent the projection 59 spaced therefrom a distance sufficient only to provide a gap through which a knotted end of a warp thread cannot pass.

In warping up the loom 50 one end of a warp thread is knotted and slipped between a post 61 and the post 59. The loom is then disposed in a bowed condition and thread is applied, passing around the posts 58 and 59. The loose end of the thread is then knotted and slipped between one of the posts 61 and the post 59. Tendency of the base 51 to try to return to a normal straightened condition maintains tension in the warpas described with respect to the looms 10 and 40.

When it is desired to collapse the loom 50 the warp thread is lifted off the projection 58 and slipped over the projection 57. Distance between the projections 57 and 58 is such that the loom base 51 can return almost,

but not fully, to a normally straight condition so as to maintain warp tension when the loom is collapsed to a non-operation condition.

I claim:

1. A loom including:

a. normally straight flat base adapted to be flexed along a longitudinal axis and having front and reverse surfaces,

. warp connecting member mounted on the base for longitudinal sliding movement having projection for engaging threads of a warp passed across the front surface and over ends of the base so that the warp can be moved longitudinally of the base,

c. the base being adapted to be disposed in a bowed condition when the warp is applied to the loom so that tendency of the base to return to a normal straight condition applies tension to the warp.

2. A loom as claimed in claim 1 including a restraining bar having laterally bent end portions and longitudinally spaced apart holes in the base for receiving the end portions of the bar when the base is disposed in a bowed condition so as to maintain the base in the said bowed condition when the warp is applied to the loom.

3. A loom as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the warp is releasably connected to a projection so as to permit said one end to be disconnected from the warp connecting member and including U-shaped spring clips adapted releasably to be secured to and extend transversely across ends of the base for engaging warp so as to maintain the warp on the base when the base is straightened.

4. A loom as claimed in claim 1 in which the warp connecting member includes a pair of transversely extending pieces mounted side-by-side on the loom for means is released so as to enable the base to be returned to a normally straight condition and maintain tension on the warp.

6. A loom as claimed in claim 1 in which the projections on the warp connecting member are disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship so that one end of the warp can be disengaged from one projection and connected to another projection spaced longitudinally therefrom so as to enable the base to return almost, but not quite, to a fully straight position so as to maintain tension on the warp when the loom is disposed in a nonoperative condition. 

1. A loom including: a. normally straight flat base adapted to be flexed along a longitudinal axis and having front and reverse surfaces, b. warp connecting member mounted on the Base for longitudinal sliding movement having projection for engaging threads of a warp passed across the front surface and over ends of the base so that the warp can be moved longitudinally of the base, c. the base being adapted to be disposed in a bowed condition when the warp is applied to the loom so that tendency of the base to return to a normal straight condition applies tension to the warp.
 2. A loom as claimed in claim 1 including a restraining bar having laterally bent end portions and longitudinally spaced apart holes in the base for receiving the end portions of the bar when the base is disposed in a bowed condition so as to maintain the base in the said bowed condition when the warp is applied to the loom.
 3. A loom as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the warp is releasably connected to a projection so as to permit said one end to be disconnected from the warp connecting member and including U-shaped spring clips adapted releasably to be secured to and extend transversely across ends of the base for engaging warp so as to maintain the warp on the base when the base is straightened.
 4. A loom as claimed in claim 1 in which the warp connecting member includes a pair of transversely extending pieces mounted side-by-side on the loom for longitudinal slidable movement and tension springs connecting said pieces.
 5. A loom as claimed in claim 1 in which the warp connecting member includes: i. a pair of transversely extending pieces mounted in side-by-side relationship on the base for longitudinal slidable movement, ii. latching means for releasably interconnecting the pieces yieldably resisting projections so as to maintain the base in a bowed condition when the warp is applied to the loom, iii. tension springs interconnecting the pieces for yieldably resisting separation when the latching means is released so as to enable the base to be returned to a normally straight condition and maintain tension on the warp.
 6. A loom as claimed in claim 1 in which the projections on the warp connecting member are disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship so that one end of the warp can be disengaged from one projection and connected to another projection spaced longitudinally therefrom so as to enable the base to return almost, but not quite, to a fully straight position so as to maintain tension on the warp when the loom is disposed in a non-operative condition. 